Today's idea - Oscar Wilde's Salome at the Theatre Royal

Today the Theatre Royale brings Oscar Wilde's Salome to life. In keeping with Wilde's dramatic writing, "Salome is a lyrical yet shocking piece of storytelling from one of the greatest writers of the last two hundred years. It is fragile, savage and shimmeringly beautiful, rendered exquisite poetry and unforgettable theatrical images. Headlong and Curve Theatre, Leicester present a vivid contemporary production of this rarely-seen masterpiece."

The plot is thus:

"The brutal power of ancient myth collides with twentieth century decadence in Oscar Wilde's dazzling verse tragedy. Salome, stepdaughter of King Herod, agrees to perform the mysterious dance of the seven veils but demands in return the head of the King's most influential prisoner - John the Baptist."

It comes from director Jamie Lloyd, one of the most critically acclaimed young directors in British theatres, and is performed by Headlong, a fantastic and innovative theatre companies at the moment. The Theatre Royal's responsible for a brilliant standard of production, and this sounds to be no exception.

It's running until 29th June.
Time: 7:45pm (Thurs and Sat matinee 2:30pm)
Website & tickets: here
Cost: £14-28
Map: here

Today's idea - Oscar Wilde's 'Lord Arthur Savile's Crime

Today 'that curly haired bloke' from the Joseph 'Any Dream Will Do' BBC show and other assorted cast members are performing Oscar Wilde's 'Lord Arthur Savile's Crime.' Having seen the Dorian Grey film last night (hmmm) I'd be keen to see more plays by the author. Admittedly the curly haired man is not to all tastes, but the play sounds really rather good.

There's been a couple of very well received performances of Oscar Wilde's plays about Brighton, and today - and until Saturday the 20th February - they're set to continue. By very good, I mean "critically acclaimed."

"Lord Arthur Savile is deliriously happy: a pillar of Victorian society, he’s on the verge of marriage to the lovely Sybil. Then an encounter with a clairvoyant reveals that he is destined to commit murder, and Arthur decides that to protect his future wife, he must commit this bloody deed before he marries. As he sets about deciding which of his family and friends could be most conveniently eliminated, chaos predictably ensues…

This delightfully daffy comedy has a deceptive vein of black humour, sprinkled with Wilde’s inimitable one-liners."

It's at the Theatre Royal, lasts 2hours, has a break for snacks and drinks and intellectual airs and graces, and begins at 7:45. Tickets are £13-28 depending on where you sit and are available from here - and yes, we're keeping our eyes out for cheaper plays about too, although for this much money you do get "all-star cast is led by the legendary Gary Wilmot, (‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’, ‘Me and My Girl’), Kate O'Mara (‘Dynasty’, ‘Bad Girls’), David Ross (‘The Green Green Gras’s). Derren Nesbitt (‘Special Branch’, ‘Where the Eagles Dare’) and Louisa Clein (‘Judge John Deed’)".